HarperCollins Children’s Books is celebrating the 75th anniversary of one of the most beloved epic fantasy classics of all time—The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, the first book in The Chronicles of Narnia series. The literary world was changed forever when four children stepped through a wardrobe and into the magical land of Narnia in C. S. Lewis’s The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, which originally published in the UK on October 16, 1950, and in the U.S. on November 6, 1950. The Chronicles of Narnia has become a cultural phenomenon, with worldwide sales of the series reaching over 115 million copies, editions available in sixty languages around the world, and adaptations to film, TV, and stage. Most recently, Narnia has been optioned for a new upcoming adaptation to be developed by Netflix.
As part of the year-long celebration, HarperCollins is partnering with Little Free Library to create 25 custom Narnia-themed Little Free Libraries. Through August 31, 2025, individuals and organizations across the U.S. can apply to receive one of these Little Free Libraries that will be stocked with Narnia titles and other C. S. Lewis books for their community.
Vincent Sieber-Smith, Managing Director of the C. S. Lewis Company, said: “What began as a vivid image of a faun carrying an umbrella and parcels in a snowy wood in young C. S. Lewis’s mind blossomed into the fantastical world of Narnia, a land where magic meets reality, where good battles evil, and where anything is possible. The Pevensies’ journey of courage, loyalty, sacrifice, and redemption continues to resonate with readers everywhere and is as relevant today as it was seventy-five years ago. We are thrilled to be celebrating the enduring impact of this classic work with our partners at HarperCollins.”
Rich Thomas, Senior Vice President and Executive Director of Publishing of HarperCollins Children’s Books US, said: “Seventy-five years ago, C. S. Lewis created the most memorable fantasy world of our time—the magical land of Narnia. The powerful story in The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe of four brave children, an evil witch, and the unforgettable Aslan has become the cornerstone of the fantasy genre and enchanted and inspired millions of readers. We are excited to mark this momentous occasion with an anniversary publishing plan that celebrates the literary legacy of The Chronicles of Narnia as the greatest epic fantasy series of all time and brings new readers through the wardrobe.”
Cally Poplak, Managing Director of HarperCollins Children’s Books UK, said: “There are not many books that can truly be said to have defined the landscape of children’s literature, but The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe is one of them. Beloved by generations of readers, its everlasting appeal is a testament to C. S. Lewis’s storytelling – an act of magic that has created lifelong readers of children around the world for decades, including me, who longed to be Lucy! 2025 marks an extraordinary milestone for the world of Narnia, and we are incredibly proud at HCCB to be celebrating seventy-five years of this groundbreaking, genre-defining series.”
These custom book-sharing boxes will be granted through a special application via our Impact Library Program, which grants Little Free Libraries full of books to communities that need them. Last year we granted more than 650 libraries through this program! Learn more about the Impact Library Program. And scroll on to see photos of the special libraries installed across the U.S.!
Rochester, NY
Columbia, SC
Kansas City, KS
Portland, OR
